Passenger train excursions between Rockland and Brunswick end soon
ROCKLAND — Is riding the excursion train between Brunswick and Rockland on the bucket list? If so, reserve a spot now. Maine Eastern Railway permanently ends excursion services in Maine, Saturday, Oct. 31.
The company, which has been operating on these tracks since 2004, will also cease freight transports Dec. 31, according to Rudy Garbely, marketing and logistics manager for Maine Eastern Railroad.
The railway, currently under the operation of Morristown and Erie Railway of New Jersey, is being taken over by the Central Maine and Quebec Railway for the Maine Department of Transportation 2016 contract.
CMQ is known formerly as the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway, which endured bankruptcy following the Lac Meguntic train disaster in Canada. Along with the name change, the company restructured and brought in new management.
Starting Jan. 1, CMQ will transport freight along the 58-mile track between Rockland and Brunswick Ship Yard. CMQ currently transports freight through Searsport.
The final day for excursion service on the Rockland Branch will be Sunday, Oct. 31. Tickets may still be purchased for these excursions at MaineEasternRailroad.com or by calling 207-596-6725.
The Maine Eastern Railroad said in a news release that it thanks “customers, passengers, supporters, and the State of Maine for the opportunity to operate the Rockland Branch for the past 12 years. The railroad also wishes the Central Maine & Quebec the best success with its new operation.”
Since Jan. 1, 2004, the Morristown & Erie Railway has been operating in Maine as the Maine Eastern Railroad, providing year-round freight service and seasonal excursion train service along the Rockland Branch. The railroad’s main office in Morristown, N.J., was notified that the operating lease on the State-owned Rockland Branch, which runs for 58 miles between Brunswick and Rockland, will not be renewed with the Maine Eastern. Instead, the local Central Maine & Quebec Railway will assume the freight operations on the Rockland Branch Jan. 1.
The Morristown & Erie Railway currently has extensive freight operations in Morris County, N.J., and switching operations at the Bayway Refinery in Linden, N.J. Both have seen significant rail traffic increases in the past four years. The Morristown & Erie will be refocusing its efforts on these operations by pursuing several new business opportunities and continuing to foster the upward trend in freight shipments. The Morristown & Erie’s rail equipment currently located on the Rockland Branch will be relocated to New Jersey to supplement the railroad’s existing locomotives and rolling stock and help manage the increased business.
There are no current plans for the continuation of excursion passenger service along the Rockland Branch in 2016.
The Morristown & Erie Railway provides freight rail transportation services in Morris, Essex, and Union Counties in northern New Jersey. Since 1895, the Morristown & Erie has been moving commodities such as lumber, plastic, food products, and chemicals throughout North America via connections with other national freight carriers. The Morristown & Erie Railway maintains several transload facilities in the New York metropolitan area, and also performs in-plant switching at the Bayway Refinery, the second largest oil refinery on the East Coast. To learn more, visit the Morristown & Erie’s website at merail.com.
Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com.
